What's hot this spring: The latest travel news

TURKISH MINI CRUISES

Turkey’s coast is so damn dazzling and unspoiled that you might think you’re in the furthest-flung parts of the Philippines. If you don’t have the annual leave to commit to a two week-long sailing trip along a far-away coast, try a new mini cruise on a gulet (a traditional masted sailing boat) from Turkey experts Exclusive Escapes. The 2-4 night itineraries take you past hidden bays and forest-clad mountains. Bliss. Two nights from £650pp including all meals. exclusiveescapes.co.uk

The Turquoise Coast of Turkey is one of the world's most beautiful sailing destinations

With Exclusive Escapes you can now take mini sailing holidays in Turkey for two or three nights

DETROIT GETS HIP

Detroit’s nascent renaissance has seen artists and start-ups move in to take advantage of cheap rents and the city’s 80,000 abandoned buildings (#ruinporn is a thing, and there’s some spectacular-looking urban wreckage). Another reason to head to the birthplace of Motown and techno: Virgin Atlantic now flies there, with tickets from £609pp. virginatlantic.com

SLO - VINO - IA

Oenophiles, listen up. Slovenia may not be on your radar for great wine yet, but it should be. Particularly Maribor, Slovenia’s second-largest city, which sits on one of the biggest and oldest wine cellars in Europe (all 215,000 square feet of it). If you like the sound of that, Adria Airways is launching a direct flight to the city in June. From £50pp return. adria.si/en

LUXE MEXICAN GETAWAY

To holiday with the Hollywood A-listers, get your ass to the sun-drenched Baja California coast of Mexico. One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos, is one of the most luxuriously decked-out resorts in the area, and will soon be unveiling a facelift to make it even more drool-inducing. oneandonlyresorts.com

MARATHON TASK IN GREECE

As if running weren’t hard enough already, the North Face has upped the ante with its Zagori Mountain Run in western Greece (24-26 July).  There’s a ‘gentle’ 10km jog, or a testing 80km Ultra. The endurance race promises epic views of the Vikos gorge, but the nearby Aristi Mountain Resort has great views too. Meet you in the spa afterwards, yeah? aristi.eu

AUSSIE PRISON HOTEL

Go to prison without committing a crime. Yep, the Fremantle Prison YHA (30 minutes from Perth, Western Australia) was a women’s jail until 1991. Now the UNESCO World Heritage-listed building is a hostel where you can sleep in the former cells. Wall decor includes placards detailing the crimes of former inmates. Sweet dreams. westernaustralia.com

ART BY THE SEA

For outdoor art, head to the island of Anglesey off the north-west coast of Wales. Here, you’ll find an exhibition of paintings depicting different Welsh landscapes, from castles to oceans and mountains. The work of artist Anthony Garratt, it’s free to see – just stroll up when you fancy. Book a beachside cottage with menaiholidays.co.uk

REVAMPED MARGATE

Fans of the Great British seaside, this one is for you. Dreamland was once Margate’s place to hang, with arcade games and concerts from acts including the Rolling Stones. It went through some tough times and closed, but the theme park is being re-imagined to open again this summer with a retro-style pleasure park, a ‘pinball parlour’ and a restored, grade II-listed wooden rollercoaster. dreamland.co.uk

ITALIAN STAY 

The line-up for Lucca’s annual music festival has been unveiled, and this July’s roster of acts includes John Legend, Lenny Kravitz, Alabama Shakes, Snoop Dogg and, er, Billy Idol. Make the most of Tuscany’s countryside and coast by staying a short drive from both: La Locanda al Colle is a 12-bedroom boutique hotel set in tranquil gardens with panoramic coastal views and a heated salt-water swimming pool. From £130 per room per night. expertoitaly.com 

La Locande al Colle is a 12-bedroom boutique hotel near Lucca, Italy

CYCLE THE MOTHER ROAD

Route 66 is one of the most famous drives in the world, but get this: a new bike-friendly map of the US highway has been created, detailing cycling shops, prairie grasslands and hazardous stretches.  There are 2,500 miles to cover from Chicago to LA. Let us know how that goes, yeah? adventurecycling.org 

NEW BUS LINKS IN NORWAY

It’s now possible to combine three of Norway’s most iconic hikes in one epic day trip. Billed as the ‘Kinder Egg’ of hikes (though we’re still wondering why), you can zip between Pulpit Rock, Kjerag and the Troll’s Tongue via a handy express bus, saving your legs for the proper hiking territory. visitnorway.com

UNDERGROUND ZIP-LINING

Enough of namby pamby assault courses – for the UK’s newest adrenaline rush, try a new five-kilometre underground obstacle route in an abandoned mine. You’ll be hurtling down nine zip lines in the pitch black as you spend a day navigating the deepest, darkest caves of Snowdonia, Wales. Let us know if you bump into Batman. go-below.co.uk

SWISH HOTEL HITS BODRUM

In the 1990s, Bodrum was about hormones and hangovers. But times are a-changing, and the Turkish town has gone all sophisticated. Swissôtel would agree – they’re just about to open on the Aegean Coast. Design spec high, room rates low. From £106pn. swissotel.com/bodrum

CORNISH PADDLEBOARDING

Another day, another opportunity to stand up paddleboard. It’s the sport of the decade, and as an easier alternative to surfing, we’re all for it. Try the Hawaiian sport in the UK: Ticket To Ride is offering new SUP tours that’ll have you exploring the Cornish coast and rivers at a gentle pace. From £30. tickettoridesurfschool.co.uk